Rotary engine.



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No. 860,549. A lATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

I. KLBGKIUIB..4 ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1906.

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No. 860,549. PATENTED JULY 16, 190,1.

I. KLBCKNER.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIOATION FILEDMAY 5, 190e.

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IRA KLEGKNER, OF CAMDEN, INDIANA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

lPatented July 16, 1907.

Application filed May 5,1906. Serial No. 315,425.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA KLECKNER, a citizen of the rUnited States, residing at Camden, in the county of Carroll and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam engines of the rotary type in which a cylindrical piston is mounted within and concentrically to a steam cylinder, `and in which the steam enters the center of the piston on one side and passes out on the opposite side, and in Which there are fixed and sliding abutments against which the steam impacts and rotates the piston.

The especial objects of my improvements, are to produce an engine of the type named which will be of simple `and economical construction, in which the frictional surfaces will be reduced to the minimum and in which the expansive force of the motive power fluid will be conserved in the maximum degree.'

The minor objects obtained through my improvements are the accurate movements of the sliding abutments andsirnple and effective provision for reversing the direction of the engine.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application for patent, I have shown my improved rotary engine in the following views Figure 1 is a vertical section through the center of the engine; Fig.` 2 is a cross-section just' above the horizontal axis of the engine; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the engine, and Fig. 4 is an edge view of the piston.

Referring to the drawings in detail A, A1, represent the two cylinder plates which form the engine cylinderand the same are secured together by bolts through their co-registering flanges a2, leaving a cylindrical steam chamber a3 having a rounded periphery as shown in Fig. 2. In this chamber is mounted concentrically with the cylinder, a hollow cylindrical piston B on the periphery of which are ixed radial abutments b1, b1, which are spaced apart and in the spaces therebetween7 are loosely mounted expansive packing-rings b2 which provide steam tight joints between the flanges b1 and the inner walls of the cylinder.` The piston is cast with steam passages b3, b4, which enter through the hubs bs of the piston, extend radially through the piston in opposite directions and pass out at opposite points in its periphery. These passages serve respectively and alternately as induction and eduction conduits and ports depending upon the direction in which it is desired to drive the piston. The` cylinder plates are formed with extensions a at opposite peripheral points to which are secured stufhng boxes a5 `of well known form. Through said extensions are slide-ways a4 the inner ends of which communicate with the steam chamber a3. Arranged in the slide-ways a1 are slidable abutments c2 c2 to the outer edge of which are secured rods cl, c1, which pass through suitable openings in the stuffing boxes a5 and have nuts c4 mounted on their outer end-portions.

Secured to the rods between the nuts c4, are U-shaped yokes C the ends of which are connected with coilsprings c5 which in turn have their opposite ends secured to lugs on the opposite faces of the cylinder as shown in Fig. 2. The normal tension of said springs is exerted to draw said yokes inwardly or toward the center oi the cylinder and inasmuch as the sliding abutments are connected with said yokes through the rods c* the retractile power of the springs will be transmitted to said abutments.

Near the free ends of the yokes C are fixed square pins which are adapted to slide between the forked ends d2 of the bars D arranged on opposite sides of the cylinder. Each of the bars D is formed with a boss d1 near one end on which is pivoted the free end of the arm e2 of the cam-ring el which is fitted 011 the cam E. This cam is eccentrically mounted on the hub portion bt3 of the piston and rotates with the latter. A pulley F is mounted on one ofthe hubs of the piston, and steam is conducted to or from the passages b3, b4, by pipes g1, g2, between the ends of which and the said passages steam tight joints are effected by the stuHing boxes b in the usual manner'.

It will be understood from the aforegoing description that the construction and arrangement of cam, camring and bar D are the same on both sides of the cylinder. It will also be understood that the sliding abutments are so mounted, connected and operated as to alternately close or block the steam chamber between the periphery of the piston and the walls of the cylinder.

From the construction above described it will be apparent that steam entering through the pipe g1 will passthrough the passage b4 and out at the periphery of the piston, whereupon the slidable abutment c2 being across the chamber a3 as shown in Fig. l, the steam will impinge against the abutments bl of the piston and push same circumferentially of the cylinder and thereby rotate the piston; when the abutments b1 pass the slide-Way of the sliding abutment c2 on the opposite side of the cylinder, the `first named sliding abutment will begin to retract and thus will permit the steam to,

enter the passage way b3 and pass therethrough and out the pipe g2, in the meantime, the supply of steam being continued, it will enter the space between the pistonabutment b1 and the second sliding abutment cz which will have been closed through the co-action of the cam E and its connecting rod D the yoke C and the springs c5 as described, thus forming a second expansion chamber for the steam which will give further impetus to the piston and continue its rotation.

I have not shown any means for reversing the introi duction of the steam from the pipe g1 to the pipe g2,

1. In a rotary engine; a cylindrical steam cylinder, a cylindrical piston having axial and radial passages therethrough substantially as shown, and providedwith fixed abutments on the periphery of the piston, slidabl'e abutA ments mounted on opposite sides of the cylinder, LT-shaped yokes connected with said abutmentsi' and means for 0perating said yokes including spiral springs; substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a cylindrical piston mounted Within and concentrically to said cylinder and provided with axial and radial inlet and outlet passages,

slidewuys inopposite sides of said cylinder, abutments slidably mounted in said slide-ways, lf-shaped yokes con nected with said abutments, spiral springs connected with said yokes and adapted to retract the same, and eccentric means for moving said yokes against the tension of said springs. f

3. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a cylindrical piston mounted Within said cylinder and provided with communieating axial and radial inlet and outlet passages respectively, slide-ways in said cylinder, abutments slidably mounted in said slide-Ways, yokes connected with said abutments, springs adapted to retract said yokes, and means for moving said yokes against the tension of said springs consisting of cams cam-rings and slotted bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

IRA KLECKNER.

Witnesses S. S. KLECKNER, J. C. SINK. 

